KALAMAZOO - Before Sookie read minds, before Bella loved Edward,
before Buffy sharpened her first stake, "Bunnicula" terrorized a
suburban household and delighted a generation of readers, spawning six
sequels and an animated special. Now James and Deborah Howe's beloved
1979 book has been lovingly brought to life at Farmers Alley Theatre
under the direction of Sandra Simpson.

The plot is simple. The Monroe family finds a baby rabbit at a
screening of "Dracula" and brings it home, breaking ranks and rattling
cages (so to speak) among the other household pets, dog Harold and cat
Chester. Things take an ominous turn when vegetables begin popping up
drained of all their juices and with tiny bite marks that match up
perfectly with little Bunnicula's fangs.

As anyone familiar with the book knows, however, this story truly
belongs to the animals. Tara Sytsma inverts scheming, neurotic Chester
with a take that is decidedly level-headed and demure. Meanwhile, Adam
Carter utterly reinvents lovable, dimwitted Harold, transforming him
from sleepy foil to a hyperactive trouble-maker in his own right
(resulting in the show's best physical comedy).

"Bunnicula" ultimately achieves an easy charm that will appeal to
adults and children alike. While not exactly "Toy Story 3," the show
offers enough sly references to "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince" to
keep parents engaged while the kids are marveling over the cartoonish,
candy-colored set pieces. Longtime fans will also chuckle over some of
the show's playful meta-commentary over the original book's flagrantly
arbitrary denouement, a rushed deus ex machina involving a trip to the
vet that had me in stitches.

Last but not least, there is Bunnicula himself. Whereas the book
leaves his actual vampiric status ambiguous, the play spells it out,
allowing puppeteer Brian Panse to bring Bunnicula delightfully to life
as he forages the kitchen at night in search of fresh "victims." Yet
those attending this one-weekend engagement at Farmers Alley should not
fear - unlike the show's titular character this is one play that does
not suck.